The Legal Aid Society is representing a man and his young family after they were evicted from their Brooklyn apartment. His wife is positive for COVID-19, and since the eviction her condition has rapidly declined, sending her to Brooklyn Hospital. With no other safe housing available, he is living in his car parked outside of the hospital in an effort to remain close to his wife, as reported by NY1.

A petition was filed in Brooklyn Civil Court on March 31st to allow him to return to the apartment. The landlord claims the tenant was not living there legally and occupied the premises for less than 30 days, despite the fact that the tenant claims he made payments to a third party since January. Attorneys at Legal Aid believe that the couple were victims of fraud. The next court date is on Monday.

“It’s not uncommon in New York City for someone to see a house that’s vacant and then essentially break into that house, change the locks, and then fool some poor people into believing that they’re the landlord, give them a fake lease,” explained Legal Aid Society Staff Attorney Erin Neff. “And then the real landlord finds out and kicks them out.”